Lot 20030 – 1896 Olympics large handpainted essay by P. J. Blanc of an unaccepted 10D design

1896 Olympics large handpainted essay by P. J. Blanc of an unaccepted 10D design, 13.3x24cm, in Indian ink on wove paper, some minor tone spots, with Greek « OLYMPIC GAMES » at top aove the portrait of Mercury with « HELLAS » below and « DRACHMA . ATHENS » at foot, with artist’s namer and date at lower left, a unique and highly important essay and a major showpiece of an 1896 Olympics exhibit, ex Manfred Bergman.

Note: The motifs for the proposed 1896 Olympic issue were proposed by Svoronos. Drawings based on of these were submitted by Gillieron and Joseph-Paul Blanc (designer of the French « type Blanc » issue). Gillieron’s drawings were accepted.